writing a book | the photography

I’ve written a few posts about the experience I had writing my book and it’s been a while since the last one. I thought it was about time I picked it up again.

When the reality of a book offer from Thomas Nelson was right around the corner, it needed to be decided if I would do the photography or if we would hire a professional or perhaps a hybrid where I take some pictures and a pro swoops in for the money shots. I was not 100% confident in my photography abilities, so I sent them some of the shots I did for Cottages & Bungalows and HGTV.com to get their opinion. We had a conference call about it a few days later. I was out shopping with my mom and I remember sitting on a planter outside of Kohl’s when I learned that I would be the photographer for my book. The only photographer. And I’m not a photographer. I have an amateur camera and can fit all of my gear in one bag. I don’t have any fancy lighting or readers or meters and I’m basic in Photoshop at best. From the photos I sent, they had confidence that I could do it, so I took the plunge and agreed to do it.

I was glad, though, that I could work on my time table and capture the book entirely from my perspective.

The first bit of business I worked on was the cover shot. We thought a table setting would be nice, so that’s where I started. I purchased all sorts of yummy baked goods, fresh flowers and pears. We were a little stuck on pears for some reason. I scheduled a day to shoot and my team at Thomas Nelson was standing by via e-mail to receive the pictures and discuss them while I had everything set up. I snapped a bunch of shots, sent them along, received feedback, made adjustments and took more pictures. It went something like this…

“Okay, we like this, but not the red pear. Can you get a green pear?”

That’s when I pick up the phone and call my husband. “Can you pick up a few green pears and some brown pears for me?”

“How’s this?”

“Yes, we like that pear. Can you get it from the same angle as the shot with the red pear?”

For some reason, I loved photographing the baked goods. I think those muffins were calling my name and that may have had something to do with it.

The table shots were looking a bit too foodie, so I took some pictures in the living room and then snapped this one in my family room on a whim…

It ended up being the perfect composition.

So, we scheduled another shooting day and experimented with some different chairs, pillows and accessories. (The line of pillows, chairs and accessories in my dining room was pretty impressive!)

I would get notes back like, “Can you turn the chair leg out a bit more?” or “What does it look like with the ticking pillow?”

We finally found the perfect combination…

The cool thing about this is everything in this picture is so me. I upholstered the chair, painted and refinished the dresser, made the curtains, made the wreath, made the grain sack pillow. I also knew that anyone who read my blog would instantly recognize this as “Miss Mustard Seed.”

We even got the green pear in there!

I’ll share more about the photography in my next post, including the gear I shot with, how I developed the pictures and how we decided which photos made the cut.

Saw your book yesterday at a B&N in the Chicagoland area. It was on the front edge of a ‘religious’ table display. Almost stole a couple of copies to sneak ’em into ‘home dec’ so you’d get double exposure!

Saw your book yesterday at a B&N in the Chicagoland area. It was on the front edge of a ‘religious’ table display. Almost stole a couple of copies to sneak ’em into ‘home dec’ so you’d get double exposure!

Can’t wait for more inside scoop on the photography — just hearing and seeing the cover shoot process has my mind churning (in a good way!)

You paint amazing stories as well as you paint furniture. So enjoying this journey with you. I close my eyes and can envision each step along the way. Keep on walking and we will follow as you travel this path.

I’m reading your book now and loving it. I think it’s wonderful that the publisher wanted you to take the photographs — it speaks to their faith in you and your abilities and it makes it all that much more “you” — you know what you have created and what it all means to you. A hired pro? There would have been no “life” to the images.

Well, you did a fantastic job. I loved your book. If you ever need new material to photograph, rooms to decorate, furniture to rearrange, feel free to come to my house! I’d love to assist you in making my house (in Missouri) as beautiful as yours. Have a very Merry Christmas Marian!

You got some beautiful shots. But that had to be a little tedious, turn the leg a little, red pear instead of green, clearly they know what they’re doing, those pics are gorgeous. I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of your book. YIPPE! I cant wait to read it.

Oh my gosh! I can totally see you snapping away and moving things. And then emailing “How’s this?” That totally cracks me up. What an intense, yet completely exciting/amusing experience to have had. Love that everything in you book is by you. How cool is that?

I was just at Family Bookstore, looking for a gift for my friend, and stumbled across your book. I flipped through the pages and instantly knew this was the book for my friend! I know she will be so inspired by it and I love the thought you put behind each work you did!! I love everything about it! Thank you for your amazing book! I know my friend will love it!

Love the new blog look. And I am loving the book. I carry it in my work bag daily. I am awaiting the arrival of my first MSMP…so excited. BTW…should you ever decide to sale the cotton blossom brown and green pillow…I’m your girl. I LOVE THIS PILLOW! LOL Congrats again on everything!

How funny you wrote this post! I was reading my copy of your book a couple of nights ago and was really studying the photos. I loved the composition of each one, so much texture, and of course the subject matter (dishes, fabrics, shiny, weathered, flowers, patterns…). I’ve just been eating it all up! Awesome to know you shot it all. Great job! Thanks for a great book!

I’m so inspired that you took the photos and did such a phenomenal job! YAY! Go Marian!!! I love hearing how you took the shots and kept tweaking… and eventually ended up with a random shot for the cover! That sounds like something I would do

You’re just a natural, Marian. I just bought my first DSLR camera (mostly because of YOU) and am excited to learn how to take gorgeous shots like you. Love your blog. Love you. Thanks for being just the way you are.

I am so happy for your success and wish you well in health, happiness and wealth but did you not know that today on Pinterest the bloggers chose today to go silent in honor of 20 little dead children who will never have another birthday, celebrate Christmas this year or ever again, have a crush, go to college, get married, have children? Their parents arms are left empty tonight.

I am just now catching up on my emails since the week before Christmas. Guess What???? I did receive your book for Christmas along with a cookbook from one of my favorite Food Network stars. I am a happy camper. Going on a trip this weekend and plan to take both books to read in the car.